Hidden gem nestled in retirement community
By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
Many people probably assume the food offered in retirement communities is bland and nondescript. A visit to the Signatures Restaurant located in Fox Run, a retirement community in Novi, may prove them wrong.
Admirable ambiance
I recently dined there with a very finicky guest (my nine-year-old daughter, Sabrina). As soon as we arrived, I was immediately struck by the crisp, cozy décor and muted-light ambience. Tables are positioned throughout the restaurant so there is plenty of room to move around— there’s nothing crowded about this place.
Earthy tones such as green, peach, and beige dot Signatures’ landscape, from the comfy chairs to the quaint brown parchment-type lamps that grace each table.
The pièce de résistance in Signatures has to be its centerpiece, an open-area cooking station accompanied by a crescent-shaped marble countertop and hanging lights all around.
“It’s an extra kitchen, or a ‘baker’s kitchen,’” our waiter, Alex, tells us. “That’s where chefs prepare special desserts like fruit crisps.”
The baker’s kitchen was truly a sight to see, and I’d never seen anything like it before. It was upscale yet quite welcoming.
Freshness rules
Alex immediately brought us a basket of hot, homemade rolls, including wheat, white, and poppy seed.
The menu was impressive. The soup du jour, which we both ordered, was roasted vegetable and wild rice with a rich chicken broth, squash, and potatoes. It was superb.
Next, Sabrina and I enjoyed the “Signature Salad,” comprised of fresh garden greens topped with carrots, fresh cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and crispy croutons— full of springtime freshness.